Archive for November 2007

Not having a regular daily schedule is fun, but it’s killing any routines I am trying to establish – keeping this blog updated daily is one of them. I officially forfeit the NaBloPoMo challenge (but will keep trying to post as often as I can). Boo…

Anyway…Tuesday was my jon‘s birthday – I gave him a book and board game both centered around the Cold War. Aww…such a little history buff 🙂

Last night was the Simpsons ship party – woo! I won’t go into it too much, but it was fun. Four-course meal, open bar, “gambling” tables, karaoke, and fabulous prizes! There were enough of my old team friends there that I didn’t mind having to be around the sort of douchey ones I was happy to leave. I did have a few glasses of champagne, though, so I’m feeling it a little today.

I am very sad to have been missing The Daily Show since the writer’s strike started. Here was a little something that brightened my morning:

I got an email reply from Company Two today, with the results (sort of) of the programming challenge I did for them last week. Basically, along with the source, I gave them a nice list of all the improvements I wanted to make, that I didn't because I wanted to get them results in a timely manner. What they sent back basically said, “do those improvements now.” Sigh.

I guess it's good, because it really will get me a quality game to show off in the end. I will also end up learning the deeper functionality of Company Two's codebase, which should come in handy if they ever offer me a job. Also, it's kinda fun 🙂 I just thought I had laid that little project to rest for a while, and was all geared up to start sewing today.

In other news, I got my sewing machine back today! That means as soon as this new business is out of the way, I can get started on my new adventure 🙂

So yesterday's post was a bit abbreviated. I spent all afternoon getting ready for the big event, got there, and realized I hadn't posted in my blog! And I wouldn't be home until it was already Sunday! Catastrophe!! That post was sent via my mobile phone, mid-party. Internet on my phone is functional, but leaves much to be desired. I will have to figure out this TxtLJ thing.

Last night was awesome! Jon and I had a joint birthday party (since our birthdays are just 10 days apart) in the city. We rented out a bar for the night – for the small fee of a guaranteed minimum bar tab, we got the whole place from 8:00 until closing time, a full sheet cake, and two bottles of champagne! There were just two problems – a casualty of alcohol in the men's bathroom, and coming in way under the minimum bar tab.

I hooked up my iPod to their stereo system for some loungey musical ambiance, there was pool-playing, fireside-sitting, and lots of drinking. At the peak of the party, I think we had 50 or 60 guests. It was a trip, being in a public place, but still knowing everyone around you. The Cheers theme song floated in my head more than once. Did I mention, I had a great time?

I am trying to figure out how we came in so far under the tab, and can think of three reasons. One: looking around, most everyone was drinking beer or wine instead of the expensive top-shelf alcohol. Two: on top of that, people weren't drinking very much. Damn you, responsible friends! Three: on the way home, some people in the car we were in commented on how they weren't charged for all of their drinks. They said they asked the bartender why they drank 13 beers and paid for 10, and the bartender said, “Don't worry about it.” Under normal circumstances that is an awesome quality in a bartender, but in this case, Jon and I were on the hook for the rest of the money. I sent an e-mail to the bar owners this morning, informing them of what was going on (but carefully didn't ask for any money back – despite everything, they did help make the party run very smoothly).

Jon's sister got me Rayman Raving Rabbids as a gift, and I spent this morning playing it. That game is one of my favorites for art direction, and I think it will hold up as a good party game once I'm done with the story mode. Thank you Katy! I love it!!

Nothing else has been planned for the rest of the day, other than sending out a couple of thank you cards, then heading to David's place for some dinner with he and Valeri. Just two more days until Jon's birthday, and the end of this giant, fun-but-exhausting, HalloweenBirthdayBirthdayFest '07.

Today I went with my mom to The Original Creative Festival (ooh, Original!!) at the San Mateo Event Center. It was smaller than I remember it, maybe because after a while, you start to feel like you've seen it all before. Oh look, there's the mat-cutting guy…the lady who sells stuffed animal patterns and fake fur…and the lady who sells the sequin patterns and kits to bedazzle your life… It does get old when you've been to the same expo three or four times before; also when you only were interested in a few things at each show to begin with. It is so hard to be crafty and fashionable!

The last aisle of the show turned out to be more fruitful than the rest, though – Mom actually bought a sewing machine! She was already planning on replacing her old Singer, and this thing was awesome. I won't get into the details, let's just say it was chock full of features, and we both thought it was a good deal.

After that, I found a booth that was selling fabric I actually wanted all over my house. You know, those super-sleek, abstract floral patterns in bright colors? Well, I bought enough to make a couple of aprons (which I had already been planning on). Maybe this will be the beginning of my enterprise. When I got home, I started looking at online fabric retailers, to see their offerings and prices. I think, if I sat myself down to do it, I could make a fair bit of money sewing purses and home items (pillows, aprons, etc.) and selling them. Now I just need to get my sewing machine back from the shop 😛

Happy birthday to my sweet blog and ex-dorm friend, Iris. I'm sorry your day has a shadow cast upon it; I hope you find happiness in here somewhere 🙂

My interview today turned out to be not much of an interview. I took a 1.5 hour code test (some crazy problems in there, all in all I had fun), then talked to the guy who brought me in (Manager of Product Development or some such business), at which point he said none of the people who really mattered were in this week because they were taking a break after shipping their last thing. He went over benefits and how the company works and stuff, but we couldn't get into much else on account of all the absent people. Hopefully I'll get back in there for a real talk early next week – I think (hope!) I left a good impression.

So…it's Wednesday. Um, lots happened today. Like, I got out of bed…I finished watching an old movie from last night (High Noon, starring Gary Cooper)…I went to the grocery store…I cleaned the shower. So far, nothing really warrants an exciting blog post.

Then, holy shizzle! I have an interview tomorrow at one of my prospective employers! It's at 10:00, so that means back to waking up at normal time. Then, I got a reply back on the programming challenge – they said thanks for the submission, and they'll get back to me with next steps by Friday! Nothing so far from company #3, but I think I will send a personal email to the CEO (who I have met before), asking what the situation is. ONE of these has GOT to pay out.

Jon's really a pragmatist, but I can't help but feel optimistic about jobs today. (It also helps me to think happy thoughts when things aren't going as well.) For that, I give you a list of songs about optimism: